Click here to follow us on Twitter @circletrackplus   Click here to like us on Facebook 

Leavine Family Racing will join forces with Circle Sport Racing to run the full 36-race schedule in the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The team announced during a lunch program at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour that they will be entering in alliance with Richard Childress Racing and will now run the Chevrolet SS racecar powered by ECR engines this season.

“The manufacturer and alliance switch provides our team with the best opportunity to improve on-track performance and to create long-term sustainability,” said team owner Bob Leavine. “We’ve finally found a great fit that’s going to help us continue to grow both on the track and as an organization.”

Michael McDowell and Ty Dillon will split time behind the wheel of the No. 95 machine. McDowell is set to race 26 races of the season while Dillon pilots the team’s entry for the remaining Sprint Cup races. McDowell and Dillon are positive that the new low-downforce package will give single-car teams the opportunity to compete at a higher level.

“This is a big step for our competition program,” said McDowell. “The technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing is a huge asset to our growing team and we’ll have access to some of the top equipment in the Sprint Cup Series.”

Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing will kick off their first full season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Daytona Speedweeks in February.